Trailer type crop loader



p 1953 H. D. HUME 2,650,690

TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER Filed Dec. 13, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

WM 11 fma Sept. 1, 1953 H. D. HUME 2,650,690

TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER Filed Dec. 15, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. meg A9. fla

Sept. 1, 1953 H. D. HUME 2,650,690

I TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER Filed Dec. 13, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 INVENTOR. fl wc a jflm I Mw Sept. 1, 1953 H. D. HUME TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER Filed Dec. 15, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 1, 1953 H. D. HUME 2,650,690

TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER Filed Dec. 13, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 J72 1Em?iiiiiiiiifllii imiiiiifi iiiiiiiiiiifiii 175 12569 A /77 173 Q 1,! 99 I 72 71 "QM fifi'iuii'i'imfi r e a h Mimi-m 6 ff I I I I 1 I l IN V EN TOR.

i m t" '5 %/W Sept. 1, 1953 H. D. HUME TRAILER TYPE CROP LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 13, 1950 $9 M90 NwN INVENTOR. 46, ,a 150m Mfl 617 [no] l l i I I.

n I II II II I In 1| Hi m Patented Sept. 1, 1953 rreo srmr PATENT or F re E TRAHJERTYPE CROP LQADER Horace2D..Hume, M'ndbta Application December. 13, 1950;,SeriaLNo; 200,578

3 Claims. 1.:

The present invention relates to improvements. in' a trailer." type crop; loader.v

It' is the purpose of the present invention toprovide' a. novel loading; machine, adaptedlto be towed by a' truck or similar towing andi crop hauling vehicle, the loading machine having. means to pick. up the crop from a wi'm'l'row: or swath; elevate the crop. and carry the crop forward into theitruck'body This machine is par:- ti'cul'arl'yadapted to" handle hay. and vine? crops. It is" so constructed that a hauling, vehicle can. be attached; to it: and pull it along,- untill the haulingvehicle is loaded; then another hauling vehicle can replace the. firsthauling vehicle until. it is' loaded. The hauling vehiclesfurnish. the motivepower'and thelo'ader can be operated" without the use of atract'orio'r separate power unit and driver;

It is also a purpose of this" invention toiproviole a trailer" type crop loader embodying a.- lower pick up unit: and" an; elevating, conveyor that extends upwardly and rearwardl'y from the pick up unit thepick upunit and conveyor pivoting'ahout' a point at the rear end ofthe conveyor and being spring counterbalanced" to fol"- low the ground contour, together'with; a second pick" up unitand'at conveyor; .extendi'n'gv forwardly and upwardly therefrom,, the I second pick up unit'and conveyor being directly over the lower' conveyor and pivotallymounted adjacent. the rear end" of. the lower conveyor and spring hal anced" so thattheforward end ofLthe upperconveyor is readily raised and'lowered; and" a deflectingapronon the rear endl of the lower conveyoroperable' to turn the crop elevatedhy the; lower conveyor into the secondpick up unit so that this, unit can feed the. crop to the upper conveyor: This conveyor then carries'the crop into the truckho'dy.

The: inventioni's" embodied in amachine. which consists of a" main frame supported above the: ground by'an'adjustahle hitch attachedt'o some pulling device anditwo traction type wheels. A.

crop' pick up unit is located beneath. the front" end of the frame just: hehindthe hitch. and con? sists' cfa' hollow;,rotating drum having; projecting fingers which pick. up. the. crop and lift. it. onto. the. lower. conveyor. These, fingers, recede as they approach. the rear. of the: drum and therefor-e,-. do. notstrike the. hottomi belt. roller.

The conveyor carries. thecropupwardly and, rearwardly to a point. where, an. upper pick. up;

unit picks. up. the vines=bunched near it-by the deflecting. apron and. elevates them. to/the. upper:- conveyor which carries the crop forwardly and gers.

crops diifers with the kind of crop and various Chain drives operate the contour of the soil.

The deflecting apron is' connectedi to the upper end. of the lower conveyor and means" areprovided. for. the spacehetween. the conveyor and." the .circu1ar path of the upper pick up unit fin- This is' necessary because the" volume of growing. conditions;

two conveyors, apron and pick" up units. These drives. are providedwi'th' releasing'clutch means toenable theloperator' to move the device with"- out. a continuous operation of the conveyors, apron and pickup units;

The nature and' advantages of my invention will. appear more. fully from. the following description and" the accompanying drawings whereina preferred embodiment of the invention i's. shown. The. drawings and description are illiist'rativeonly and" arenot intended to limit the invention except. insofar as it' is limited by the claims.

Figure. 1 is: a side view of the trailer type crop loader connected to a pulling'and hauling device;

Figure 2 is a front view of the crop' loader;

Figure 3 is a rear view of'the crop loader;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the side ofthe lower pick up: unit andthe lower end of the conveyor, and part" of the lower" pick up unit" drivev from" the wheel;

Figurev 5 is a fragmentary'sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of'Figure' 3;

Figure dis a. sectionalviewtaken on the line 6'6 of Figure. 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side'view'of the connecting, conveyor and upper pick up unit drive taken on the line T-T of'Figure. 2;,

FfgureBj is a fragmentary side view of the bell crank spring. balancing system-for the lower pick up unit. taken. on the. line 88 of Figure 2;.

Figure 9. is a sectional" view on the line 9-9 of Figure 1;,

Figure 10 is. a sectional view taken on the line l0l I1 of'Figure. 7;

Figure 11 is asectional view taken on the line H'-l'l of Figure 10} The height oi the forward end Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line |2-|2 of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a partial bottom view of Figure 10 taken on the line |3|3 in Figure 10.

Referring now to the drawings, the trailer type crop loader is shown in Figure 1 as comprising the rigid main framework and the rigid smaller framework 2 which is fixed to the forward end of the main frame I. This framework remains substantially horizontal during operation. Supporting the framework at three points are the two wheels 3 and 4 and the hitch 5 which is adapted to be secured to a framework on the towing device (partially shown).

The framework comprises a large, angle iron crossbeam 6 (Fig. 3) having hollow boxed-in end members I I and I2 to which are welded channel irons l and 8, and 9 and I respectively to form two V-shaped sides. The legs of the V-shaped side frames are spanned by the two longitudinal beams l3 and I4, and supporting these beams are vertical braces l and IS on one side and H and I8 0n the other. Two short channel irons l9 and 2B are welded horizontally to the channels 8 and I0 respectively and are joined at their respective ends by a crossbeam 2|. Crossbeams 22 and 23 join the ends of the longitudinal beams I3 and I4. Protruding from the forward end of the main frame I is frame 2 which is comprised of two horizontal channels 24 and 25 which come together at a point forwardly removed from the main frame I. A brace 26 extends from the center of crossbeam 22 to the junction of beams 24 and 25. The crossbeam 2| joins the lower ends of uprights l6 and I8 and a vertical brace 28. Bracing the rear of the main frame are two cross braces 80 and 8|.

At the intersection of crossbearn 2| and vertical brace 28, the end of a pipe section 29 is welded and extends through the intersection of channels 24, 25 and 26. Into the forward end of a pipe 25 is telescoped a pipe 30 which is part of the hitch 5 and is secured therein by a bolt 3|. Welded to and extending downwardly from the forward end of the pipe 39 is a plate 32 which is strengthened by a gusset plate 33. Four bolts 34 secure the plate 32 to an L-shaped plate 35 which is strengthened by a gusset plate 35. A channel section 31 is bolted to the horizontal leg of plate 36 and a bolt 38 is welded into the end of chan nel section 31 so as to fit into an aperture on the towing vehicle frame 40. A knob 39 is fixed to the channel 31 for adjusting the ball and socket joint on the forward end of the hitch.

On either side of the rear end of the main frame I are bolted supporting posts 4| and 42 which support the pivot shaft for the upper pick up unit and attached conveyor.

The lower crop pick up unit is composed of a hollow sheet metal drum 43 and pick-up fingers 32 protruding through slots 83 in the drum. Supporting this drum is the axle 44 which is fixed to an adjusting bar 45 which also absorbs the end thrust of the axle 44 and keeps it in line with respect to the crop pick up side frames 45 and 41. Welded together to form one of these frames are angle irons 48-59 inclusive and a plate 5|. Between plate 5| and the drum 43 is a drum shaft bearing plate 52 which is bolted to plate 5| by bolts 53 and 54. A runner 55 is bolted to the bottom of each pick up unit side frame and is supported by a vertical brace 79. The runner provides a soil contact means for the spring balanced pick up unit to rest on. This runner slides along the ground and follows the soil contour, whereby the crops are efficiently recovered from the field. Thus waste, which would otherwise occur due to low lying spots and rises, is prevented. Bolted to the top angle iron 48 of the frame is a plate member 56 to which a bearing plate 57 is bolted. A shaft 58 of the end roller 59 of a lower conveyor 6|) rotates in a bearing 59a on the plate 51 (Figure 1).

The lower end of the conveyor 6|] is attached to the lower pick up unit by angle irons 6| and 62 which are fixed to the conveyor frame 63. A bracing bar 64 has one end welded to plate 65 which is bolted to the conveyor frame 53, and the other end is bolted to the angle iron 5!] on the pick up frame.

A lug 98 is provided on the member 58 and to this is pivotally attached an angle iron link 99 by a bolt 18. A bell crank is fixed to a shaft 66, which is mounted in bearings 61 and 68 on frame members l3 and I4. As best seen in Figure 8, the bell crank comprises a bar 69 fixed to shaft 66 at one end and pivotally attached to a horizontal bar 76 at the other end by a bolt 71. The bar 76 is welded to the top of lift link 99 and extends toward the shaft 66. A bar 10 is welded to shaft 68 a short distance from and at approximately right angles to the bar 69 and extends downwardly to a pivotal connection with the spring expansible link II which is made up of a rod 12 and a spring 13. This link is bolted to the support post 4|. This sprin balance system gives a floating operative characteristic to the lower pick up unit so that runners 55 of the unit are constantly in contact with the soil during operation. When runner 55 sinks into a depression in the soil, the bell crank system moves downwardly against the pressure of spring l3. This spring pressure aids in pulling up the pick up unit when runner 55 strikes higher soil. Gravity keeps runner 55 down against the earth. A control rod 14 is attached to one end of the shaft 66 and when turned upwardly, it hooks on a book '15 on the frame member I4. This lifts the pick up unit and conveyor a safe distance off the ground for the purpose of traveling to and from the fields, across roads etc.

Frames 46 and 41 are similar, but are designed to function at opposite ends of the drum 43. The part members of frame 41 correspond to those of frame 46. In actual operation the crops are pulled upwardly to the lowest part of the lower conveyor by means of fingers 82 which protrude from slots 83 in the pick up drum 43. These fingers are spaced longitudinally and circumferentially on an offset shaft (not shown). The offset shaft rotates inside the front portion of drum 43 which also rotates. The offset shaft causes the fingers to project their full length from the lower forward quarter of the drum and but a small fraction of their length in the upper rear quarter of the drum. This allows roller 59 to be placed close enough to the drum 43 to prevent any crops from falling to the ground between the drum and the conveyor. A belt or draper 60 forms the lower conveyor. Wood slats |00 are attached crosswise of the belt 60 at regularly spaced intervals. These slats are used on crop handling conveyors to keep the cut material moving with the belt.

The lower conveyor frame comprises two side frames which are made up of angle irons 63 and 63-|, and 84 and 84-| respectively, which, at their lower ends, are welded to angle irons 6| on the frames of the crop lifting unit. The upper ends of the angle irons 63 and 84 are welded to the angle irons 63-| and 84-| respectively, as

shown at: as in Figure; Brackets as. and: as are. welded to. the conreyoir. side, frames. below th upper ends andbolts 8.6 and 81; pivotally connect.

the brackets 88 and 89 to brackets: 0.0: and ill which are. welded to the rear cross. frame. member 23. The. conveyor side frames are strengthfidibyi 1305.5 11ES921Wh-1Ch arewelcledtothe out.-. side, of-1 the; conveyor. side; frames. at; spaced in;-.

tervals and also; provide .a.m.eans.:offastening. uprights 03 to. the sides of theconyeyo1'-.. Theseuprights. have. asmall: curved shield. 9.4 welded: to; them near thebottom to. guidetne moving con-- veyor belt 63 anditoisupportthe meta-l shield. 95; The shield: 95iis. bolted: to: theuprights ea along the travel distanceof-the conveyor belt 30 For additional strength, cross braces 91- connect the side frames; Also, diagonalrod braces Hit andport for, the conveyor belt 60: to rideon-. This structure can best be seeninliigures, 3, 4. and 5.

The upper conveyor is. constructed similarly to thedower conveyor. It,i s;rigid1y attached at its lower; rearward end. to the-upper pickup unit I22 which is pivotedon. shafts. I20 and I2I borne by thesupporting. posts. 4I.and;42 bolted. to themain am he. id frames: are. made up. by w pairs of spacedapart angle'irons I01 and I08, and I09; and, H0; respectively. To these are welded brackets; I-I;I which supDQrtuprights II 3 that carry the; guide plates I42 The uprights I l 3 are bolted. to. the, brackets. IIII. and side shields H4 areboltcd to the uprights, II.3 asseen in Figures Land 6. 'rhetpurposeof-jthese side shields is to keep;the c rop,materiakconfined tothe upper conveyon belt. I24; Upper and: lower cross braces H5; strengthen. the conveyorframework as do diagonalbraces H1: and U 0; welded tothe lower sides of; angle irons I01: and; I09 between. spaced cross braces. I;I;5, as seen; in Figures 2 and 6; Braces; H 3: project; from. the... uppermost; uprights I.I.:3 and servetol-add rigidity to the extended ends,

of shield; I L4; Figureadshowsslats I23 attached. to.the.belt. I242 of: the upper. conveyor..- Asseen in Figures 2 and 6, two longitudinal. fiatguide strips. 2.225 and. 223-. are. welded to the. conveyor cross braces I;I;5-:to support; the conveyor belt.

In order toprovide for-raising and lowering the upper; conveyor angularly. about the. pivot shafts I :and;I2;I, supporiting bars I25;and I26, braced by. bars I21: and I28" as seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 311C158; support: the. frontend of the conveyor by means of: an adjustable device shown best in. Figures 1: andfi. Rear brackets. I29andforward brackets.I30 a1te.welded;to the lower side frame members. I01 and. I09 at the forward endof the conveyor. These brackets. support two bars I3I and. I32; having a series. of apertures. I33. along their. length. As best seeninFigure 6; a control ban I34 operates to rotate. a rectangular plate I35=and itspivotbolt I36. which is. welded to a rod I3 1. A:nut= I36aholds:the plateI35inplace. The rod I3-1 is mountedbetweentheends of conveyor-supportingbars I25 and I26 and bolted thereto. Brackets I38' and- I39 are welded to the rod- I31near-itsends-and'provide-bearings for two spr-ing pressed pins Mil-and I4I- which are adapted to enter the apertures I33 in bars isedesired; for: the forward endi thereof. Rollers Two thin metal strips I65, an

I42 and I43 are journalled: on the rod I131 ill-w sition to bear against and roll on. the undersideszofbars I3I. and I32. Adjacent to theban I-32; a guide rod" I44is:.mounted:by lugsv I45 and I=46 on the brackets I20. and If30.. The rod I44 extends; parallel to'the bar I32. A short tubularbearing member I41: is: welded to. shaft; I31 and isso positioned that. the rod I44 slides through the member I 41 when relative movement occurs be tween the conveyor and the-supporting bars; I25; and I26.

The pins I40 and I 41' are forced into; their. apertures by springs I43 wrapped aboutzthe pins. between a stop I50 on: each pin and a bearing; tube I5I mounted on the shaft I3 1 by a bracket: I52. A bolt I54 through the end of each pim I40I4-'I, which projects from the tube I5:I, pive otally attaches the pin to a link I53 which -iapiu otally attached at its other end; to a corner oi The links I53 are attached to. di

Moving the bars I25" and I26 forward under t'he. conveyor causes the conveyor tofall. Since the pins I40 and MI are underspring' pressure, they: will enter the paired apertures in bars I:3:I and I32 when opposite them, providing the control? bar I34 is released sothat the springs I48: cam exert their pressure on the'pins.

As seen best in Figures 1', 2. 3: and 8, a pair 0 5 spring expansible links comprising springs I12'=;. rods I13, and short links I14 are connected to the vertically inclined support bars. I25 and I26; by bolts I15. These links exert enough force to prevent forward movement of the support;

bars-by mere weight of the-upper conveyor alone. The upper-conveyor-is so balanced by the springs. I12 thatwhen the-holding pins I40 and I4I= arereleased, the conveyor will automatically rise. It can be lowered by sufficient forward pull on the bar; I34; Adjustment of the tension on the springs I12 is provided by the-threaded bolt 300 threaded into each rod I 13" at 301. The bolts:300 have heads I16- secured bybraces I11-' that are provided'on the uprights 41 and" 42.

At the upper end of the upper conveyor is a. roller- I55 rotating about a shaft I56. A similar roller I51; is positioned at the'lower endofthe' upper conveyor near the'upper pick-upunit I2 2t When. crops are'carried up by the upper pick up unit fingers I58, asseen in Figure 7, the upper conveyor belt I24, having numerous cross bars I23, carries them upwardly to theend of the conveyor, from which they drop-to the body of thehauling vehicle.

The construction andoperation of theupperpick up unit I22 is similarto that of the lower The angle iron side frames- I01I08 and unit.

I09--IIO of the conveyor are attachedto chan--- nelirons I59:(see Figures, 10 andl2'). Brackets I62 are welded tothe underside ofthe conveyon side frame members I01" and I00 and are bolted" to the sloping channel irons I50.

An L-shaped member I60 (made oftwoangle ironswelded together) is bolted to each channel- A cross bar I6I connects the upper A brace I64 is also iron I59. ends of the brackets I62.

an outer frame member I66;

I62 andzbrace plate. IIiLtis lY. against there.

spective lower side portions of channel iron I59. Also the lower vertical flange of part I60 is held between parts I64 and channel I59 by bolt 293. A bolt 291 secures the upper conveyor frame member IIO to channel I59. The bracket I62 is welded to member I09 and crossbar I6I is welded to both to give a firm connection between the upper conveyor frame and the upper pick up unit. Each member I66 is adjustable in a U- shaped frame member I61 which is supported on the pivot I20 or I2I by a bearing box I68. A pick up drum I69 similar in all respects to the drum 43 rotates about its shaft I10 and contains pick up fingers I58 which operate in a manner similar to the fingers 82 of the lower pick up unit. As is seen in Figures 10 and 13, an angle iron brace 294 extends beneath the upper crop pick up unit for added rigidity and is bolted at its ends to gusset plates 296 which are welded to the braces I65. Bolt holes I61 permit lowering of I66 in I61.

The pick up unit shaft I10 is supported for rtation in an upper framework made from three angle irons I18, I19 and I80. The angle irons I18 and I80 are bolted to the member I66. A plate I8I is welded to the angle iron I19 and extends downwardly to form an end support for the pick up drum shaft I10.

As best seen in Figures 2, '1, and 12, part I18 mounts a bearing block I84 for a shaft I85 of the roller I51. The shaft I85 is supported at the conveyor frame by a second bearing I81 on a plate I82 that is welded to the L-shaped member I60.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, plate I88 extends inwardly from the top angle iron I19 to the plate I82 to provide a top connection from the upper conveyor frame mounting to the angle iron I19. On the left hand side of Figure 3 angle iron braces I89 and I90 are bolted through plate I88 and welded to angle irons I18 and I19. Blocks I82 are lower extensions of plates I82 and form a brace for brace 294.

A bracket I9I is welded to the top of plate I88 adjacent the conveyor side frame and to this bracket is pivotally mounted an adjustable supporting bar I92 for the deflecting apron positioned behind the upper pick up unit. A member I92-I provides for extension of bar I92 and both contain a series of apertures for bolts I93 and I94. The upper end of member I92-I is pivotally mounted on a bracket I95 which is welded horizontally to a vertical side frame member I96 for the deflecting apron. A bearing block I91 is bolted to the bracket I95 and mounts an upper roller shaft I98 which carries a roller I99. At the lower end of the frame member I96 a lower roller I is mounted on a shaft 202. A deflecting apron belt 203 having slats 203-I travels about the two rollers I99 and 20I to carry crops upwardly when they are brought up by the lower conveyor belt 60 to deflect them against the fingers I58. The fingers I58 of the upper pick up unit move the crops over until they fall on the upper conveyor belt I24. Cross braces 204 connect the deflecting apron frame I96 to a like frame I96a at the opposite side edge of the deflecting apron.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the end of the shaft I98 extends out beyond the frame I96a and at that point mounts a sprocket 205. Between the sprocket 205 and the second bearing block 206 mounted on the apron side frame I96a is a bearing block 201 bolted to a plate 208. A lower, narrowed end of this plate is bolted toa 8 long bar 209 extending downwardly through a guide block 2I0 which is fixed on a small shaft 2. A bearing member 2I2 mounts the shaft 2 II on the plate I88.

As best seen in Figure 2, the lower end of bar 209 carries a shaft 2 I3 extending outward therefrom at a right angle. A sprocket 2 I4 is mounted on the outer end of this shaft and carries a sprocket chain 2I5 which is extended over the sprocket 205 on shaft I98. The lower side of this chain rides on a sprocket 2I6 which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft I upon which is mounted the lower roller I51 of the upper conveyor. A sprocket chain 2 I9 is wrapped about a large sprocket 220 which is attached to the end of the pick up unit drum shaft. This chain also extends about a sprocket 22I mounted on shaft I85 between the pick up unit frame and the outer sprocket 2I6, as best seen in Figure 10. Thus it will be seen that the deflecting apron can be angularly adjusted by adjusting the length of the rod I92. The bar 209 slides in member 2I0 and therefore the distance between sprockets 205 and 2I4 remains constant. The chain 2I5 is driven by the sprocket M6 on the rotating roller shaft I85 and this drive is not disturbed by any angular positioning of the deflecting apron because the lower side of chain 2 I5 merely rolls back and forth on the sprocket 2I6.

Part 224 is a device which is claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,480,294 for varying the distance between the conveyor belt rollers by moving a sleeve 225 that carries a bearing block 229 for a roller in or out of the tube 226 by rotating a rod 221 which is operated by a handle 228. The rod is attached to an eye 230 that operates a. screw arrangement in the tube 226 so that when the rod is turned, the shaft 225 moves in or out of tube 226, depending on the way handle 228 is rotated. The cylinders 226 are fastened to the side frames by means of brackets such as 298 and 299 in Figure l, which are bolted to the frame members. Thus the conveyor belts can be loosened if they grow damp and contract. This adjustment is necessary in order to save equipment from breakage due to rain or wet crops. Canvas is the generally used material for these conveyor belts and has a well known tendency to contract when wet.

The expansible unit 224 is found on both side frames of the lower conveyor at its upper end. A pair of expansible units are also found on the lower part of the deflecting conveyor framework. They extend downwardly and a bar 233 is mounted at its ends on the two blocks 229 of the expansible units of the deflecting apron and the lower conveyor respectively. Similarly, expansible devices 224 are mounted on the upper end of the upper conveyor. Clips 234 are provided on the conveyor side frames to hold the handles 221 when not in use.

The pulling of the crop loader by the pulling and hauling device causes a rotation of the traction type wheels 3 and 4. Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 show how wheel 3 drives a countershaft 235 which is mounted on the frame member II by two bearing blocks 236 and 231 bolted to angle irons 238 and 239 welded to the top of frame member II. A sprocket 240 is keyed to the end of countershaft 235 nearest the wheel and is driven by a roller chain 24I which is wrapped about a large sprocket 242 on the wheel hub. The countershaft 235 extends inside the main frame I for a substantial distance and parallel to the cross beam 6, as seen in Figure 2. A

sprocket 243 is keyed to the countershaft near its inner end, as best seen in Figure'5. Two bar members 244 and 245 form a frame which is suspended from the vertical main frame member I5 by .a bolt 246 through bar 244 and by a bracing member 241 which is "bolted at its lower end to the bar 245 and at its upper end to the frame I5, as seen in Figure 3. The brace 24'! is also extended as shown at 250, down to the cross beam 6 to which it is welded. The bars 24 L465 mounta sprocket 25| at their vfree'ends by means of a shaft 252 which is mounted in yoke members :2 53 having bolts 254 and 2 55 that slide in a slot .256. Nuts on these bolts are tightened to fix .shaft 252 inone position. Attached to the endof bar2 l4 is a bracket 251. Attached to the bracket 25! by a bolt 26| is a bar 258 having two apertures 269 and 252 into one of which fits a handle member 263 which can be inserted and tightened in either of the apertures 260 or 262 to hold the bar 258 in an up or down position. Roller chain 26'! connects sprockets 25L 264 and 269. This chain also lays on and is driven by sprocket 243 when bar 253 is in the down position.

A sprocket 254 is mounted on the inner end of a stub shaft 265 welded at one end to block 266 which is bolted to the side of the main frame member I 5 nearest the adjusting bar 258.

Near the lower end of the conveyor is a shaft 295 mounted in a bearing block 268 on the side of the conveyor nearest the above described roller chain. Attached to the end of the shaft is a sprocket 269 which engages roller chain 267. This shaft is driven in a counterclockwise direction when the bar 258 is in a down position so that chain 261 is engaged with sprocket 2%. When bar 258 is in an up position the chain is lifted off sprocket 243 and is suspended by sprockets 25| and 264. This device serves as a clutch for the lower crop pick up unit which is driven by shaft 295 when the chain 257 is in engagement with all four sprockets 269, 264, 25E and 243. On the opposite end of shaft 295 is a bearing plate 219 supporting shaft 295. As best seen in Figures 2, 3 and l, a chain 212 is driven by sprocket 21! mounted on shaft 295 and drives sprocket 273 which is mounted on an extension 215 of the shaft 58 that is held in place by a bearing plate 214 bolted to the lower side frame of the lower conveyor. 27B is keyed to the extension shaft 215 and, in turn, drives roller chain 2' which causes the crop pick up drum shaft 44 to rotate by engaging large sprocket 218 keyed to the end of the drum shaft 44.

As best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, wheel 4 drives roller chain 219 which drives shaft 283. A spring 285! exerts a pressure against a sprocket 28!, and on the opposite side of the sprocket 28! is a clutch consisting of a flanged wheel 282 which is fixed to the end of shaft 283 and a member 285' of the sprocket. Figure 3 shows bar 2% against the member 28l'. When the handle 285 is pushed toward the front end of the loader, the end of bar 284 presses the member 22! away from wheel 282 and against the spring 289. This releases the clutching mechanism thereby causing the sprocket 28! to stand still while the shaft 283 rotates within it. Sprocket 2%! drives a chain 29!.

Chain 295 drives shaft i2! which is mounted on supporting post :32. Sprocket 286 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft i2! and engages roller chain 2%? which in turn engages sprocket 288 on shaft 585 and drives the upper conveyors A sprocket ll) lower roller 1 51. 'On the opposite side of the loader frame, the sprockets 2 M and 221 'are'ke'yed to and turn with shaft H35. Sprocket '2l4 engages roller'chain 2 l5 and drives the upper roller l 99 of the deflecting apron through sprocket 205. The smaller sprocket 22l is keyed "to shaft H35 inside of sprocket 2M and drives roller chain 2-!9 which drives the larger sprocket 220 of the upper crop pick up unit.

Supported by a bracket 289 which is welded to main frame member M and a bracket 290 which is welded to frame member 9 is 'a tubular chain guard sea which protects the chain 291. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In 'a trailer type crop loader of the character described, a frame, wheels supporting 'said frame above ground, a "swivel towing hitch mounted "at the lower forward portion of said frame, a lower conveyor pivotally mounted on the upper rear portion of said frame, a lower crop pick up unit fixed to the lower forward end of said lower conveyor and adapted to ride on the ground, spring supporting and balancing means for the forward end of said lower conveyor, a deflecting apron pivotally mounted at the rear of said lower conveyor and extending upwardly therefrom, supporting posts extending upwardly from the upper rear portion of said frame, an upper crop pick up unit pivotally mounted on the top of said supporting posts, support means extending from said upper crop pick up unit to said deflecting apron, an upper conveyor fixed to said upper crop pick up unit and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom directly above said lower conveyor and projecting forwardly beyond the lower conveyor, spring supporting and balancing means for said upper conveyor pivotally attached to the upper forward portion of said frame, means to raise and lower the forward end of said upper conveyor, driving means from one wheel to said lower crop pick up unit and said lower crop conveyor and having a clutch means interconnected therein, driving means from a second wheel to said upper crop pick up unit and said upper conveyor, a clutch means in said last named driving means, driving means connected between said drive for said upper conveyor and said deflecting apron, and means for confining the crop to the limits of said conveyors.

2. In a trailer type crop loader of the character described, a frame, wheels supporting said frame above the ground, a swivel towing hitch mounted at the lower forward portion of said frame, a lower conveyor pivotally mounted on the upper rear portion of said frame, a lower crop pick up unit fixed to the lower forward end of said lower conveyor and adapted to ride on the ground, spring supporting and balancing means for the forward end of said lower conveyor, a deflecting apron pivotally mounted at the rear of said lower conveyor and extending upwardly therefrom, supporting posts extending upwardly from the upper rear portion of said frame, an upper crop pick up unit pivotally mounted on the top of said supporting posts, support means extending from said upper crop pick up unit to said deflecting apron, an upper conveyor fixed to said upper crop pick up unit and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom directly above said lower conveyor and projecting forwardly beyond the lower conveyor, spring supporting and balancing means for said upper conveyor pivotally attached to the upper forward portion of said frame, and means to raise and lower the forward end of said upper conveyor.

3. In a crop loader, a frame, two rear wheels supporting the frame, a towing hitch at the front of the frame, a crop elevating conveyor having its rear end pivoted on the upper rear portion of the frame, a crop pick-up unit at the forward end of the conveyor, and drive means for said conveyor and pick-up unit comprising a sprocket wheel driven by one of said wheels, a sprocket wheel on the conveyor operatively connected to the conveyor and pick-up unit, a "sprocket wheel on the frame, an, arm pivoted on the frame and carrying a sprocket wheel at its free end and adapted to swing over the first named sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain around. the three last named sprocket wheels, and means to move the arm up and down between a position forcing the chain into engage- 12 ment with the first named sprocket wheel and a position holding the chain spaced from said first named sprocket wheel.

HORACE D. HUME.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,171 M. J. Spencer Jan. 1'7, 1893 605,025 J. W. Spencer May 31, 1898 1,709,094 Orge Apr. 16, 1929 1,841,729 Hauge Jan. 19 1932 1,891,908 Bernotow Dec. 27, 1932 2,174,605 A. T. Spencer, Jr. Oct. 3 1939 2,516,192 Ensinger July 25, 1950 2,542,446 Abel et a1. Feb. 20, 1951 2,551,427 Ellefson May 1, 1951 

